'I overcame Covid panic attacks to get my GCSEs'

Tamsin's school attendance went down to 52% following the pandemic

For three years, Tamsin missed nearly half her days in school.

The 16-year-old, from Droitwich, Worcestershire, said her experiences during the Covid pandemic lockdowns badly affected her.

"I was scared of being in front of people and thought they would judge me," she said.

"Every time I woke up to go to school I started getting panic attacks. My heart would hurt."

But, through a scheme run by her school, she went on to improve her attendance and finish some of her GCSEs

However, she was not alone in struggling, as the number of children who missed more than a tenth of their days in school has nearly doubled since the pandemic, according to data from the government.

Since 2018-19, when the figure for England stood at 771,863 pupils, it rose to 1,487,022 in 2023-24.

Amber attended school during the lockdown and said she preferred smaller classes

It was a similar story for Amber, whose attendance at the school, Droitwich Spa High, was also inconsistent between 2021 and 2024.

The 16-year-old's mum was a front-line worker during the pandemic, which meant Amber was taught in smaller classes during the lockdowns.

She admitted she found it difficult to adjust back to normal school life when the rules were lifted.

"I like to work with not a lot of noise so I can focus more," she said.

"But with a lot of noise it was hard to focus."

Her mum, Becki, said she was really worried and struggled to find support until the school came up with a solution which, she claimed, changed her daughter's life.

Amber's mum Becki (left) and Tamsin's mum Danielle (right) said the school's scheme was a lifesaver for their daughters

Droitwich Spa High School developed a programme called the Link, a flexible approach to learning to encourage pupils, who persistently miss school, back into the classroom.

Up to seven students are taught for two hours a day with the support of specialist teachers - and uniform is optional.

Co-head teacher Gemma Lloyd Davies said: "We had quite a significant number of students who couldn't make any more than a day a week.

"We've now grown that so that students are accessing every day."

Co-head teachers Claire Moss (left) and Gemma Lloyd Davies (right) said they were proud of their specialist staff

Since attending the Link, Tamsin and Amber have managed to complete some of their GCSE's and said it had had a positive impact on their confidence.

"I find I'm going out more and getting the train by myself, which I never would have dreamed of before," said Tamsin.

She is now studying at college and aims to become a vet in the future, while Amber hopes to become a teacher to help other students with anxiety.

"It's boosted my confidence a lot so if other schools did something like this, it would help a lot of kids," said Amber.

Tamsin and Amber returned to their school in the summer to help build a sensory garden for other students

The school's head teachers have praised their colleague, Kim Jones, who specialised in helping vulnerable learners.

"Kim will always call [members of the Link's] parents each day to make sure they can come in and, if they can't, she'll find out why", said Ms Lloyd Davies.

Her efforts did not go unnoticed by Amber and Tamsin's parents.

"Without Kim, I don't even want to think where Amber could possibly be right now," Becki said.

"It's just beautiful to see that I've got my daughter back.

"Being in the Link, [Amber] walked out with five GCSE's, something we thought she wouldn't get."

A Department for Education spokesperson said the government was making progress in tackling the "attendance crisis" with 140,000 fewer pupils persistently being absent.

"We know there is more to do to support children to be in school, which is why we are rolling out free breakfast clubs, improving mental health support, and ensuring earlier intervention for children with special educational needs," they added.